Pakistan’s recent remarks about bilateral relations, especially those made by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who said that “it takes two to tango” in the context of strengthening ties between the two countries, have drawn strong criticism from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The MEA underlined that any discussion depends on Pakistan’s will to combat terrorism that originates on its soil.
The MEA reaffirmed that while India wants to have normal ties with Pakistan, these must take place in a setting free from terrorism and violence. India’s long-held belief that cross-border terrorism poses a serious obstacle to communication is reflected in this perspective.
India, pointing to other instances such as the Pulwama assault, chastised Pakistan for refusing to admit its involvement in acts of terrorism against India. The MEA emphasized that any chance for fruitful communication is undermined by Pakistan’s lack of meaningful action against terrorist organizations operating on its territory.
The MEA urged Pakistan to take clear action against terrorist organizations and to cease deceiving the world community. It noted that there hasn’t been much progress in holding those responsible for terrorist acts accountable, even though there is proof of terrorist activity connected to Pakistan.
India’s reaction also made reference to earlier engagement efforts that have frequently been met with violence and animosity from Pakistan. This past adds to India’s doubts about the genuineness of Pakistan’s requests for communication.
Although India is still willing to have talks with Pakistan, it is adamant that any such talks must first address the pressing problem of terrorism, which it sees as a necessary condition for fostering better ties between the two countries.
